Ab bookmans weekly aka antiquarian bookman, one of the most wellrespected journals in the bookselling trade, listed the following categories for judging the condition of used books. Ab bookman s weekly, a now defunct book collecting periodical, created and endorsed a set of book grading terms which over the years have come to be accepted as an industry standard. Here are the following terminologies on grading your book condition, as proposed by ab bookman s weekly back in 1949 1. In 1949 ab bookmans weekly proposed condition descriptions that would serve as standards in catalogue and mailorder transactions to eliminate confusion and. Book condition descriptions for many years, the grading system defined by ab bookman was the standard in the antiquarian book trade. Terms for describing book condition from ab bookman s as new is to be used only when the book is in the same immaculate condition in which it was published. The vermont antiquarian booksellers association vermont. Rethinking the grading of old books rare books digest. Guide to grading book condition here are the following terminologies on grading your book condition, as proposed by ab bookmans weekly back in 1949 1. Mint literally the book is still in brand new condition.
Books are graded by professional dealers using the ab guidelines, from the now defunct ab bookman magazine. Here are the following terminologies on grading your book condition, as proposed by ab bookmans weekly back in 1949 1. Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition childrens. Price includes 43 issue feature articles during the course of the year plus covers i stapled together removing the wants and sales in each issue. Ab bookman will be a booksellers site, and, we hope, a prime mover in the fight against the censorship that the flea market sites are forced into by the breadth of their audience. To this day, the ab bookmans guidelines for book condition grading remain industry standard. Included in every issue ab bookmans after 1949 was a set of criteria for grading the condition of used books. Since 1949, ab bookmans weekly, which ceased publication 50 years later, strived to establish the criteria for grading the condition of used books. As new is to be used only when the book is in the same immaculate condition in which it was published. Amazon condition guidelines general selling questions. Ab bookmans weekly, a now defunct book collecting periodical, created and endorsed a set of book grading terms which over the years have come to be accepted as an industry standard. As new is to be used only when the book is in the same immaculate condition in. Terms describing condition are based on antiquarian book trade standards as set forth in the ab bookman s weekly.
Jul 28, 2015 used and antiquarian bookseller grading ab bookmans weekly grading tops at as new, it is the basis of grading used by abaa and other professional booksellers. Ab bookmans weekly, which ceased publication in 1999, was for decades the bible of the antiquarian book trade. To this day, the ab bookman s guidelines for book condition grading remain industry standard. Bowed covers may turn inward toward the leaves or outward away from the leaves. Ab bookmans weekly for the specialist book world february 15, 1971 modern trends in book collecting proposed new u. Ab bookmans weekly for the specialist book world february. Condition guidelines for books general selling questions. Transactions by mail are possible as long as buyer and seller recognize the importance of accuracy in describing the condition of the books offered for sale. The set of terms was first created in 1949, to serve as a standard in catalogue and mailorder transactions. We do not use supercilious grades like mint books are not coins or near fine it either is or it isnt. Ab bookmans weekly, for decades the torch bearer of the antiquarian and specialist book trade, quietly published its last issue in late 1999, so quietly, in fact, that subscribers werent informed. They are the most widely accepted trade definitions. Bookmans thirty years in, we remain dedicated to being a positive influence in our community. We believe in making the effort to interact with and understand others, being involved with and contributing to our community, speaking out against censorship and promoting freedom of expression at every turn, offering a diverse mix of merchandise with.
Bowker company, publisher of books in print and other book trade and library periodicals. Describing and grading the condition of a collectible book. For many years, the grading system defined by ab bookman now sadly defunct was the standard in the antiquarian book trade. This is the equivalent of mint condition in numismatics.
And the auctions will feature a books wanted auction working in reverse, where the prospective buyer can list a want, and dealers bid the price down, not up. The lakeshores local stop for great books, magazines, newspapers, and of course service. Terms for describing condition from ab bookmans weekly. The specialist book world annual ab bookmans yearbook 2000 the specialist, 2000 9789999803182. As new is to be used only when the book is in the same immaculate condition in which it was. Nicholas basbanes called it the leading trade publication. Terms for describing book condition from ab bookmans. Condition how used books are described ioba condition description definitions for many years, the grading system defined by ab bookman now sadly defunct was the standard in the antiquarian book trade.
In short, we feel that the future of the auction site will not be competition for the general market sites, but specialty auction sites for the serious collector. Unique sweden designed bike accessories from bookman. A thriving antiquarian book trade is largely dependent on the effectiveness of catalogue and mailorder bookselling. Very good can describe a used book that does show some small signs of wear on either binding or paper. Iobas standards, listed below, do not fundamentally differ from those standards though they have been expanded u. Also, find information on book collecting and selling. Ab bookman s weekly aka antiquarian bookman, one of the most wellrespected journals in the book selling trade, listed the following categories for judging the condition of used books.
Near fine approaches the condition of fine or as new, but with a couple very minor defects that must be noted. For rare and collectible books, powells follows the condition codes first proposed in 1949 by ab bookman s weekly, which have since been widely adopted as the industry standards. There is a basic condition vocabulary and rating system amongst book dealers for describing books, so we can communicate with each other. Terms describing condition are based on antiquarian book trade standards as set forth in the ab bookmans weekly. Guide to grading book condition literateknolohitura. We do not use supercilious grades like mint books are not coins or near fine it. Prior to the emergence of internet marketplaces such as biblio, ab bookmans was the primary marketplace by which dealers and collectors located and traded in antiquarian books. As new means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the. They were adopted by the bookselling community and are still in use today. There has been a huge amount of grade inflation on the net. There can be no defects, no missing pages, no library stamps, etc.
The set of terms below were proposed in 1949 by ab bookman s weekly. Iobas standards, listed below, do not fundamentally differ from those standards though they have been expanded upon, and defined a bit more specifically. For rare and collectible books, powells follows the condition codes first proposed in 1949 by ab bookmans weekly, which have since been widely adopted as the industry standards. We abide by the terms of condition set up by ab bookmans weekly, formerly the standard trade journal for the used book business. Powells is generally very conservative when assessing the condition of book, so you can generally be assured that a book listed in, say, fine, condition is in at. Terms for describing book condition from ab bookmans as new is to be used only when the book is in the same immaculate condition in which it was published. This is an extreme change from the old guidelines where a book lacking its dustcover could be graded no better than acceptable. Aug 21, 2014 guide to grading book condition here are the following terminologies on grading your book condition, as proposed by ab bookman s weekly back in 1949 1. Elk river books specializes in rare and collectible outdoor literature, and carries a curated selected of works by regional authors, fiction, books on visual and literary arts, western and native american history, and more.
Included in every issue ab bookman s after 1949 was a set of criteria for grading the condition of used books. Condition how used books are described ioba condition description definitions for many years, the grading system defined by ab bookman now sadly defunct was the standard in. Booksellers mourned the loss, in part because it signaled the end or at least the beginning of the end of an era. Bookman creates inspiring visibility products with an aesthetic edge for cyclists, runners and pedestrians that need to see and be seen. Our standards, listed below, do not fundamentally differ from those standards though they have been expanded upon, and defined a bit more specifically. Ab bookman s weekly was a weekly trade publication begun in 1948 by sol.
Prior to the emergence of internet marketplaces such as biblio, ab bookman s was the primary marketplace by which dealers and collectors located and traded in antiquarian books. Good describes is a wellworn book that has all pages or leaves present. The book may have been opened and read, but there are no defects to the book, jacket or pages. Used and antiquarian bookseller grading ab bookmans weekly grading tops at as new, it is the basis of grading used by abaa and other professional booksellers. Apr 01, 2016 rethinking the grading of old books by the bookworm on april 1, 2016 book care and conservation, the book trade since 1949, ab bookmans weekly, which ceased publication 50 years later, strived to establish the criteria for grading the condition of used books. A trade publication for the rare and antiquarian book industry that was published between 1948 and 1999. What follows is a glossary of terms and abbreviations that are likely to be encountered in our catalogues, as well as in secondhand and rare book catalogues in general. Fine, near fine minor defects, very good small signs of wear, good average used book, fair complete text, but may lack endpapers, halftitle, poor complete text but soiled, loose hinges, etc.
Powells is generally very conservative when assessing the condition of book, so you can generally be assured that a book listed in, say, fine, condition is in at least as good a condition as the description listed below. As new means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the publisher. The condition grades that loganberry uses are adapted from the esteemed ab bookman standards. Established in 1964, bookmans price index is an index to rare and antiquarian books offered for sale in the catalogs of 100200 book dealers in the u.
Describing a books condition buyers and sellers of rare and used books recognize the necessity of a common language for describing the condition of books offered in the marketplace. Most books on book collecting provide good information on how to properly assess the condition of a book the roots can generally be traced back to ab bookmans. A fine book approaches the condition of as new, but without being crisp. Iobas standards, listed below, do not fundamentally differ from those standards though they have. This includes book terms, grading, identifying first editions. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular books condition. Ab bookmans weekly was a weekly trade publication begun in 1948 by sol.
These categories include alcoholics anonymous, civil war, education and childrens lit. Almost simultaneously, online bookselling exploded from the blocks at a speed. In 1949, ab bookman rewrote its grading standards so that the basic terms would be more encompassing. Most books on book collecting provide good information on how to properly assess the condition of a book the roots can generally be traced back to ab bookman s. Complete guide to edible plants outdoor survival plant book us army guide. Bowed a condition of the covers or boards of a hard cover book. Please contact seller for specific condition queries. Ab bookman s weekly, which ceased publication in 1999, was for decades the bible of the antiquarian book trade. Postal rates dealers and publishers librarians and collectors there is writing on the front page. In its glory days between the early 1950s and the early 1990s, ab was the best marketplace for outofprint books in north america.
Rethinking the grading of old books by the bookworm on april 1, 2016 book care and conservation, the book trade since 1949, ab bookmans weekly, which ceased publication 50 years later, strived to establish the criteria for grading the condition of used books. Abookman, a book man, book collecting, collectable books. Fine books should have no mentionable flaws, yet fine exlibraries with cracked hinges appear all the time. We use the condition terms established by ab bookmans weekly and now slightly refined by ioba. A guide to the values of rate and other out of print books mcgarth, anne f. A guide to the values of rate and other out of print books. The criteria for each category have become the industry standard. Describes a book that shows some small signs of wear but no tears on either binding or paper. When considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value. The number of titles listed in each volume is approximately 15, 000. Abs definitions of very fine or as new, fine, very good, good, fair, and so forth, have basically become the industry standard. Ab bookman s weekly, for decades the torch bearer of the antiquarian and specialist book trade, quietly published its last issue in late 1999, so quietly, in fact, that subscribers werent informed.